New to site(dcc system choices)

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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Hello,I want to purchase a system for n scale,been reading alot of forums,manuals etc.still at a loss. I want personal choices not just system bashing.This will be for a medium size layout for me and my grandkids ages 6,and7.I want to handel turnouts,lights,etc.Not looking to start word wars flames.After checking other places (forums)this seems to be a real genuine decent place for me to start.Any help in this subject would be greatly welcomed

Thanks alot atticn

P.S. No place local to really check out working systems,will have to mail order.

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A good place to start:

http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/626056/ShowPost.aspx

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You’ll get a lot of personal choices, because, after all, what it comes down to is personal preference. The good news is that almost every system is good. Avoid the extreme low end - these systems are not expandable and have some other limitations. Likewise, avoid the very high end, unless you feel like burning a lot of money on something that may be only marginally better than a more reasonably priced system.

If you can, find a club, shop or show where you can try out different hand-held throttles. This will be your interface, and the kids’ interface, to the system, so you should be comfortable with it. I like the big buttons on my Lenz system, for example. I’ve got big hands and finger, and I don’t like trying to run my trains with cellphone keypads. Of course, the big buttons take up a lot of real estate, so I don’t get the dual-train control that can be found on a Digitrax throttle. You pays your money, you makes your choices, as they say.

Be confident, though, that whatever choice you make, you’ll probably be happy with it. Today’s DCC systems are all good. And when you’re running trains, count yourself among the happy kids. Yeah, it really is that much fun again.

4

In the past three months I’ve been operating constantly on MRC, NCE and Digitrax. Although they all have their quirks, for the life of me I can’t recommend one over the other. I went with a Digitrax Zephyr and for $160 or so it should handle everything you can throw at it–and it is expandable. The reason I chose that one? I have the most support for it in my area.

Check out your local stores. See what they carry and support. If you don’t have to order on the Internet when you are in a hurry, it’s a big plus.

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You have no LHS in New Jersey? Hmmm…I doubt that.

David B

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Yes they do ,but they are out of stock or think I should know what I want,or I get a salesperson who acts like they don’t understand or be bothered atticn

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Rodney,

First off: [#welcome] to the forum! Good to have you aboard! [:)]

As others have already said, picking a DCC system is a personal choice. Even the suggestions and recommendations you get here will be “tainted” by personal bias.

Although a few here on the forum would disagree with me, not any one DCC system is the right choice for everyone. Each DCC system has its pros and cons, its pluses and minuses. You need to determine which one will best meet your current and future needs and preferences.

You’ve already put together a list of your givens:

  • For a medium-size layout

  • For you and your grandkids (ages 6 & 7)

  • Can handle turnouts, lights, etc.

  • Can purchase online

so you’re off to a good start.

Any of the top brands (Digitrax, EasyDCC, Lenz, MRC, NCE) will do what you are wanting to accomplish with your layout. However, you will find that some might accomplish in a way (or ways) that makes more sense to you.

Rodney, I initially went with the Bachmann E-Z Command. It’s a good, basic, no-frills, albeit “limited” 1-amp DCC system. Even though it met my initial needs, I would not recommend it for you because of the list you’ve given so far.

Early last year, I bought the NCE Power Cab because I was interested in a more sophisticated DCC system. One of the primary reasons I chose the Power Cab was because it was very intuitive looking, as well as to operate. I have not regretted choosing either of those DCC systems.

Rodney, if you’re interested in reading about the NCE Power Cab, I wrote a review about it on the forum, after it first came out in February 2006. It includes my initial thoughts and impressions of the Power Cab, pictures,

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Hi Atticn,

A medium size layout with 3 operators? Since you are in n-scale most of the entry level system will be able to handle the power requirements. I have similar needs to you, in that myself and my 2 boys (now 8 and 10) want to run trains together. We chose the Digitrax Zephyr and have found it to be an excellent choice for us. It can handle up to 10 throttles out of the box, so I just added a pair of throttles to the system to create a 3 user setup. The boys have had no problems at all running the Zephyr console or the DT400 or UT4 throttles that I purchased to go with it. This way, all 3 of us can run trains together. I would class my layout as medium sized and have simply daisy chained some throttle panels around the layout. This allows us to run trains, unplug and walk to a new location and plug in again, the train just keeps going and you resume control. You can of course go wireless, but this will add some considerable cost to most setups.

The Z has turnout control, but for other lighting, I would use a separate power supply. I would recommend this regardless of the DCC system that you end up choosing.

A friend of mine has the NCE Powercab, and it is an excellent system also. The thing to note with the Powercab is that if you want 3 operators with walk around (unplug-replug in another location) capability, you MUST get the expansion smartbooster/powersupply to go with it. Without it, the system does not support more than 2 throttles and also does not allow walk around. My friend was not best pleased when he discovered that he had to spend almost another $100 to get that capability. Having said that, the system has been very reliable for him and is quite easy to operate. I am somewhat biased towards the Digitrax and find the Powercab throttle to be a bit bulky in the hand, but that is just my opinion. My friend thinks the smaller Digitrax throttles are too fiddly!

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[#welcome]Atticn, I’m also in NJ, have 2 grandsons, a retired carpenter, but I’m in HO (no real difference). I started with a Prodigy (the old one) system because all my reading & research did not mention the limits of the system. I e-mailed MRC (in Edison NJ) and they said they would upgrade to Prodigy Advance for about $135, which seems like a very fair price. I have added a second throttle (hand held controller) and can add more if I choose - the next one will be the new wireless one. Their owner’s manual is a little thin, but they responded within 1 business day to my various e-mails with questions. We probably have more hobby shops & model rr clubs per square mile here in NJ than any other state - where are you located? I’m sure there’s a club or hobby shop near you![8D]

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Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Do you already have a DC throttle for your layout? If so, one advantage of the Digitrax Zephyr is that you can use up to two DC throttles on the jump ports to control DCC locomotives. I have the Zephyr and have used a pair of cheap trainset throttles as extras. You would only be able to control turnouts and accesories with the Zephyr or other Digitrax throttles, not the DC ones on the jump ports. You could let each grandkid run a train with a DC throttle and you run one and control the turnouts with the Zephyr (helps prevent cornfield meets[swg]).

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So far lookng around on the net I,m down to two,nce power pro 5amp,or super chief 5amp. Thanks for all your rplies, at least I,m getting closer I THINK??? Thanks to everyone atticn Maybe radio?[banghead]

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First [#welcome].

Go with NCE Power Cab, Tony’s Train Exchange has it for the $140 range. it is good to operate with, I do not personally have it but I use one regularly.

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If you gotta have the biggest baddest unit on the block, that’s cool. But the Zephyr 2.5a has all the sophistication of the Super Chief and will power everything you’ve got. Plus it is expandable. At an ops session I went to once, we had 10 HO trains running, 4 with sound, on the Zephyr.

Radio is cool, but will cost you an extra $100 plus $50 per throttle. If you have regular ops sessions, radio keeps you from tangling with your friends and competing for jacks. If you make your layout so that you constantly have to run around peninsulas and other obstacles or have go to the next room to follow your train, it’s cool that you don’t have to rush to have a jack. The latter can be avoided in the planning stage.

On the other hand, of the layouts I’ve run major ops sessions only one has radio and you really don’t think about the lack when you are busy doing your work. With Digitrax you can convert to radio at any time and it won’t cost you any more than if you started with it. I don’t know about the other two.

As for NCE and Digitrax. The biggest issue I’ve run across with Digitrax is that if you loose communication with loco with radio, you have to plug into the loconet to regain it. The biggest problem I’ve had with the NCE is that if you lose power to the track, some of y

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Went with nce 5amp power pro,great information on this site,really helped out. Bruce at L.S. took his time to walk me through the different systems,it was a pleasure to deal with everybody at L.S. Anyone looking for a system,advice,or parts for dcc should give them a look.Thanks everbody for your replies and time. atticn

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Yea, Bruce Petrarca @ Litchfield is a good guy. He’s always been very helpful to me with decoder recommendations and he’s always been polite. Definitely on my top vendors list. [:)][tup]

Tom

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Do you want wireless? Do you want to be able to run analog (DC) engines also? Do you want SIMPLICITY? Do you want complexity? Do you realize how complicated and how much work DCC controlled turnouts will be?

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So, Doug, what’s your point?

Tom

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Tony’s Trains has a great comparison of the different DCC systems, as does the Dec 2005 issue of MR mag. I also second the recommendation to check with Bruce Petraca at Litchfield Station. I bought my Zephyr, my circuit breakers and my autoreversers from him, he had suggestions on blocking my layout and he also converted one of my DC locos to DCC.

19

This from a guy using a Bachmann EZ DCC system with question on how to set CVs?? Apparently running analog engines isn’t important. Most people only run DCC once they make the switch because of the benefits of DCC. Their DC engines end up gathering dust or are quickly converted to DCC.

DCC controlled turnouts are not that complicated, more expensive-yes, more complicated not really, especially with a NCE PHP. DCC controlled turnouts require a motor and a stationary decoder.

You’ll like the PHP. Add a cab04p for you grandkids to use and you have years of enjoyment. The cab04 was a nice big knob for speed control and very clearly marked buttons for FWD and REV. Very simple to use and to explain to the GC. My son’s been using mine since the age of 4 with no problems.

jktrains